WE WANT YOU TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MONGOLIA

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Horseracing is a usual part of Naadam, in competitions dating back to the Bronze Age. The horses are selected a month before the big day and taken to a separate pasture for training.
The racehorses are divided into groups: two, four and five years old; over five years; and stallions. The jockeys are traditionally aged from 5 to 12 years. Mongolian children of these ages are good riders, as both boys and girls have been riding since infancy. As the saying goes, "The nomad is born in the saddle." Small saddles are made especially, but they often prefer to ride bareback.
They are not only superb riders, but also skillful tacticians, knowing how to hold the horse back so it has enough strength to converse its strength for the course. Races are not held on race tracks, but they ride across the steppe, confronted with various obstacles such as rivers, ravines and hills.
They distances vary, according to the division, between 15 and 35 km. Jockeys wear bright and comfortable clothing, with various symbolic pictures on their backs. Symbolic ornaments and designs also embellish the horsecloth.
The most exciting moments are the start and the finish. Before the start, the jockeys ride round the starting point three times yelling a kind of warcry, the ancient call, "Giingo!". When all horses are behind the line, the start is given and they surge forward.
Winning riders do a full circuit of the stadium, each accompanied by a herald. The winning horse receives the title. "Forehead of 10.000 Racehorses" and the five runner-ups are given medals; they are called the Airagiin Five.
Traditionally, winning riders do three laps of honor, then ride up to the grandstand to be offered a large bowl of airag (fermented mare's milk) from which they drink and pour some on the rump of the horse. The herald chants an ode about the horse, its rider and its owner.
There is also an interesting tradition for the loser. Honor and praise to the winners is to be expected; but the last horse is also rewarded and honored. After the victory ceremony, the horse that came in last is led up to the main stand with is young rider.
Even if the loser's face shows vexation and shame, spectators do not make fun of him, but shout encouragement and try to give him back confidence. The herald recites a special ode to the loser, encouraging him with words expressing faith in his future success.
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